Key facts
- The FAO warns El Nino may weaken India's monsoon, impacting rainfed rice and maize crops during the kharif season.
- Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is directing contingency planning for 9-10 states expected to face severe El Nino impacts.
- Plans include increasing acreage for cotton and pulses, and ensuring farmers receive scientific advice.
- Fertilizer supply is adequate nationally, with efforts to streamline distribution.
- Coordination between agricultural research bodies and state departments is emphasized for timely farmer support.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that the El Nino phenomenon may weaken India's summer monsoon, posing a significant risk to rainfed crops like rice and maize during the crucial kharif growing season. This could impact agriculture-dependent livelihoods and food security, particularly in vulnerable regions. The FAO's analysis, using 41 years of satellite imagery, suggests risks extend to global markets, with South and Southeast Asia projected to face agricultural drought. Historical data from the 2015-16 El Nino event shows significant crop losses, including a 4% drop in India's maize output and a 1% drop in rice production, with Southeast Asia losing approximately 15 million tonnes of rice. Jorge Alvar-Beltran of the FAO noted that the current El Nino cycle could be more damaging due to a warmer planet and widespread conflict, with over 80% of projected drought impacts affecting low- and middle-income countries. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are also increasing energy and fertilizer costs for farmers. The FAO highlighted successful early action in Southern Africa, where nearly $31 million in aid reached over two million people across seven countries.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed coordinated meetings with district officials and agricultural agencies in 9-10 states likely to face severe El Nino impacts. The focus is on advance contingency planning for rain-deficient districts, increasing cotton and pulse acreage, and ensuring farmers receive scientific advice. Chouhan stressed the need for crop-wise contingency plans and a practical strategy for each vulnerable district, emphasizing water conservation and alternative crop patterns. The government aims to provide farmers with reliable, solution-oriented messages. Discussions also covered fertilizer availability, market prices, reservoir levels, and water storage, with assurances of adequate national fertilizer supply. Chouhan called for tighter coordination among agricultural universities, research institutes, and state departments to ensure technical knowledge reaches farmers effectively.